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Word

首要 (shǒu yào) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 6

首要 (shǒu yào) is a Chinese word: primary. This page shows its pinyin, translation, example sentences, character breakdown, decomposition, and HSK level.

Meaning of 首要

形 xíng adjective

primary

安全是首要任务。

ān quán shì shǒu yào rèn wu

Safety is the primary task.

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Word breakdown

首 shǒu — first, foremost

Words with this character (16)
  • 1 首先 shǒu xiān — firstly HSK 4
    • 首 foremost, primary position
    • 先 before, preceding in order
    Example

    首先，我们要了解问题的本质。

    shǒu xiān wǒ men yào liǎo jiě wèn tí de běn zhì

    First, we need to understand the essence of the problem.

  • 2 首都 shǒu dū — capital HSK 4
    • 首 chief, primary, foremost
    • 都 capital city, metropolis
    Example

    北京是中国的首都。

    Běi jīng shì Zhōng guó de shǒu dū

    Beijing is the capital of China.

  • 3 首次 shǒu cì — first time HSK 5
    • 首 first, primary
    • 次 time, occurrence
    Example

    这是我首次来中国。

    zhè shì wǒ shǒu cì lái Zhōng guó

    This is my first time coming to China.

  • 4 俯首 fǔ shǒu — to bow one's head HSK 7
    • 俯 to bow down, to lower (describes the downward motion)
    • 首 head (the object being bowed)
    Example

    他不得不俯首认错。

    tā bù dé bù fǔ shǒu rèn cuò

    He had no choice but to bow his head and admit his mistake.

  • 5 元首 yuán shǒu — head of state HSK 7
    • 元 primary, first, principal
    • 首 head, chief, leader
    Example

    总统是这个国家的元首。

    zǒng tǒng shì zhè ge guó jiā de yuán shǒu

    The president is the head of state of this country.

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  • 6 回首 huí shǒu — look back HSK 7
    • 回 return, turn back
    • 首 head
    Example

    回首过去，我们走过了很长的路。

    huí shǒu guò qù wǒ men zǒu guò le hěn cháng de lù

    Looking back at the past, we've come a long way.

  • 7 罪魁祸首 zuì kuí huò shǒu — chief culprit HSK 7
    • 罪 crime, wrongdoing
    • 魁 chief, leader
    • 祸 disaster, calamity
    • 首 head, primary
    Example

    吸烟是肺癌的罪魁祸首。

    xī yān shì fèi ái de zuì kuí huò shǒu

    Smoking is the chief culprit of lung cancer.

  • 8 自首 zì shǒu — to turn oneself in HSK 7
    • 自 self, oneself (indicating voluntary action)
    • 首 to confess, to report (a crime to authorities)
    Example

    律师建议他尽快自首。

    lǜ shī jiàn yì tā jǐn kuài zì shǒu

    The lawyer advised him to turn himself in as soon as possible.

  • 9 部首 bù shǒu — radical HSK 7
    • 部 section, category
    • 首 head, primary element
    Example

    这个汉字的部首是水。

    zhè ge hàn zì de bù shǒu shì shuǐ

    This Chinese character's radical is water.

  • 10 首付 shǒu fù — down payment HSK 7
    • 首 first, initial
    • 付 payment, to pay
    Example

    他攒了三年才凑够首付。

    tā zǎn le sān nián cái còu gòu shǒu fù

    He saved for three years before he could gather enough for the down payment.

  • 11 首创 shǒu chuàng — to pioneer HSK 7
    Example

    这家公司首创了在线支付系统。

    zhè jiā gōng sī shǒu chuàng le zài xiàn zhī fù xì tǒng

    This company pioneered the online payment system.

  • 12 首席 shǒu xí — chief HSK 7
    • 首 first, leading, head
    • 席 seat, position, place
    Example

    他是公司的首席执行官。

    tā shì gōng sī de shǒu xí zhí xíng guān

    He is the company's chief executive officer.

  • 13 首府 shǒu fǔ — capital HSK 7
    • 首 chief, principal, primary
    • 府 government seat, administrative center
    Example

    乌鲁木齐是新疆的首府。

    Wū lǔ mù qí shì Xīn jiāng de shǒu fǔ

    Urumqi is the capital of Xinjiang.

  • 14 首批 shǒu pī — first batch HSK 7
    • 首 first, foremost
    • 批 batch, group, lot
    Example

    首批产品已经发货。

    shǒu pī chǎn pǐn yǐ jīng fā huò

    The first batch of products has already been shipped.

  • 15 首脑 shǒu nǎo — leader HSK 7
    • 首 chief, head, foremost
    • 脑 brain, mind
    Example

    两国首脑将在下周举行会谈。

    liǎng guó shǒu nǎo jiāng zài xià zhōu jǔ xíng huì tán

    The leaders of the two countries will hold talks next week.

  • 16 首饰 shǒu shì — jewelry HSK 7
    • 首 head/body (referring to items worn on the person)
    • 饰 ornament/decoration
    Example

    她喜欢戴金色的首饰。

    tā xǐ huan dài jīn sè de shǒu shì

    She likes to wear gold jewelry.

要 yào — important, essential

Words with this character (28)
  • 1 不要 bú yào — don't HSK 1
    • 不 negation, expressing prohibition
    • 要 imperative mood marker, forming a command
    Example

    不要担心，一切都会好的。

    bú yào dān xīn yí qiè dōu huì hǎo de

    Don't worry, everything will be fine.

  • 2 快要 kuài yào — about to HSK 2
    • 快 soon, quickly (indicating temporal proximity)
    • 要 will, going to (indicating futurity)
    Example

    天快要黑了。

    tiān kuài yào hēi le

    It's about to get dark.

  • 3 主要 zhǔ yào — main HSK 3
    • 主 main, principal, chief
    • 要 important, essential
    Example

    这是我主要的工作。

    zhè shì wǒ zhǔ yào de gōng zuò

    This is my main job.

  • 4 只要 zhǐ yào — as long as HSK 3
    • 只 only, emphasizing the sufficiency of a single condition
    • 要 need/require, expressing what is necessary
    Example

    只要努力学习，就能考上大学。

    zhǐ yào nú lì xué xí jiù néng kǎo shàng dà xué

    As long as you study hard, you can get into university.

  • 5 重要 zhòng yào — important HSK 3
    • 重 weighty, significant
    • 要 essential, necessary
    Example

    这是一个重要的决定。

    zhè shì yí gè zhòng yào de jué dìng

    This is an important decision.

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  • 6 需要 xū yào — need HSK 3
    • 需 need, require
    • 要 want, need, essential
    Example

    我需要帮助。

    wǒ xū yào bāng zhù

    I need help.

  • 7 将要 jiāng yào — be going to HSK 4
    • 将 about to, approaching future
    • 要 will, intention
    Example

    会议将要开始了。

    huì yì jiāng yào kāi shǐ le

    The meeting is about to start.

  • 8 要是 yào shì — if HSK 4
    • 要 contributes the conditional/hypothetical sense (originally 'to want/need')
    • 是 combines with 要 to form the complete conditional conjunction
    Example

    要是明天下雨，我就不去了。

    yào shì míng tiān xià yǔ wǒ jiù bù qù le

    If it rains tomorrow, I won't go.

  • 9 不要紧 bú yào jǐn — it doesn't matter HSK 5
    • 不 not; provides negation
    • 要 important/need; forms 'important' with 紧
    • 紧 tight/urgent/critical; combines with 要 to mean 'important'
    Example

    你别担心，不要紧的。

    nǐ bié dān xīn bú yào jǐn de

    Don't worry, it doesn't matter.

  • 10 必要 bì yào — necessary HSK 5
    • 必 must, certainly (conveys inevitability)
    • 要 need, important (conveys requirement)
    Example

    如果必要，我们可以改变计划。

    rú guǒ bì yào wǒ men kě yǐ gǎi biàn jì huà

    If necessary, we can change the plan.

  • 11 要不是 yào bù shì — if it were not for, but for HSK 5
    • 要 forms part of the conditional phrase (originally 'want/will')
    • 不 negation marker 'not'
    • 是 completes the conditional construction (originally 'to be')
    Example

    要不是你帮忙，我完不成这个项目。

    yào bù shì nǐ bāng máng wǒ wán bù chéng zhè ge xiàng mù

    If it were not for your help, I couldn't complete this project.

  • 12 要不然 yào bù rán — otherwise HSK 5
    • 要 introduces a conditional sense, 'if one needs/wants'
    • 不 negation, 'not'
    • 然 so, thus; completes 'if not so' meaning
    Example

    快点走吧，要不然会迟到的。

    kuài diǎn zǒu ba yào bù rán huì chí dào de

    Hurry up, otherwise we'll be late.

  • 13 至关重要 zhì guān zhòng yào — crucial HSK 6
    • 至 reaching the extreme; utmost
    • 关 critical concern; crucial point
    • 重 weighty; important
    • 要 essential; necessary
    Example

    这个问题至关重要，我们必须认真对待。

    zhè ge wèn tí zhì guān zhòng yào wǒ men bì xū rèn zhēn duì dài

    This issue is crucial, we must treat it seriously.

  • 14 要么 yào me — either...or HSK 6
    • 要 forms the first part of the conjunction expressing alternatives
    • 么 completes the conjunction structure to present alternatives
    Example

    你要么留下，要么离开。

    nǐ yào me liú xia yào me lí kāi

    You either stay or leave.

  • 15 要点 yào diǎn — key point HSK 6
    • 要 important, essential
    • 点 point, aspect
    Example

    老师总结了课文的要点。

    lǎo shī zǒng jié le kè wén de yào diǎn

    The teacher summarized the key points of the text.

  • 16 要素 yào sù — element HSK 6
    • 要 essential, important, key
    • 素 element, component, factor
    Example

    创新是企业发展的重要要素。

    chuàng xīn shì qǐ yè fā zhǎn de zhòng yào yào sù

    Innovation is an important element of enterprise development.

  • 17 摘要 zhāi yào — abstract; summary HSK 7
    • 摘 to extract; to pick out
    • 要 essential points; key information
    Example

    每篇论文都需要写一个摘要。

    měi piān lùn wén dōu xū yào xiě yí gè zhāi yào

    Every paper needs to have an abstract written.

  • 18 无关紧要 wú guān jǐn yào — unimportant, insignificant HSK 7
    • 无 without, not having
    • 关 relation, connection
    • 紧 urgent, important
    • 要 important, essential
    Example

    这些细节无关紧要，我们应该关注重点。

    zhè xiē xì jié wú guān jǐn yào wǒ men yīng gāi guān zhù zhòng diǎn

    These details are unimportant, we should focus on the main points.

  • 19 次要 cì yào — secondary HSK 7
    • 次 secondary, subordinate in rank or importance
    • 要 important, essential (modifying the level of importance)
    Example

    这是次要问题，我们先解决主要问题。

    zhè shì cì yào wèn tí wǒ men xiān jiě jué zhǔ yào wèn tí

    This is a secondary issue, let's solve the main problem first.

  • 20 简要 jiǎn yào — concise, brief HSK 7
    • 简 brief, simple, concise
    • 要 essential, main points
    Example

    请简要说明你的想法。

    qǐng jiǎn yào shuō míng nǐ de xiǎng fǎ

    Please briefly explain your thoughts.

  • 21 纪要 jì yào — minutes; summary HSK 7
    • 纪 record, chronicle
    • 要 essential points, key aspects
    Example

    秘书正在整理会议纪要。

    mì shū zhèng zài zhěng lǐ huì yì jì yào

    The secretary is organizing the meeting minutes.

  • 22 纲要 gāng yào — outline HSK 7
    • 纲 main framework, guiding structure
    • 要 essential points, key elements
    Example

    政府发布了五年发展纲要

    zhèng fǔ fā bù le wǔ nián fā zhǎn gāng yào

    The government published a five-year development outline

  • 23 要命 yào mìng — to be awful; to be unbearable; to be terrible HSK 7
    • 要 to demand; to take (emphasizing severity)
    • 命 life (suggesting life-threatening severity)
    Example

    牙疼得要命。

    yá téng de yào mìng

    The toothache is unbearable.

  • 24 要好 yào hǎo — to be on good terms, close, friendly HSK 7
    • 要 important, significant (indicating closeness)
    • 好 good (indicating positive relationship quality)
    Example

    我和他从小就很要好。

    wǒ hé tā cóng xiǎo jiù hěn yào hǎo

    He and I have been close friends since childhood.

  • 25 要害 yào hài — vital point HSK 7
    • 要 vital, essential, critical
    • 害 vulnerable point (where harm is most effective)
    Example

    他一拳击中了对手的要害。

    tā yì quán jī zhòng le duì shǒu de yào hài

    He struck his opponent's vital point with one punch.

  • 26 要强 yào qiáng — strong-willed HSK 7
    • 要 to want/demand (of oneself)
    • 强 strong/not wanting to appear weak
    Example

    她很要强，从不服输。

    tā hěn yào qiáng cóng bù fú shū

    She is very strong-willed and never admits defeat.

  • 27 要紧 yào jǐn — important, urgent HSK 7
    • 要 essential, necessary
    • 紧 urgent, pressing
    Example

    你的健康最要紧。

    nǐ de jiàn kāng zuì yào jǐn

    Your health is most important.

  • 28 要领 yào lǐng — essentials HSK 7
    • 要 important, essential
    • 领 main point, gist
    Example

    他很快就掌握了游泳的要领。

    tā hěn kuài jiù zhǎng wò le yóu yǒng de yào lǐng

    He quickly grasped the essentials of swimming.

Structure & writing
1 首 shǒu — head; skull
首 is a component in 1 characters
HSK 1
道 dào road; path; passage

consists of

1.1 丷 bā — divide/separate, the number eight
丷 is a component in 24 characters
HSK 1
关 guān to close; to shut 前 qián front; the direction one faces (opposite of 后) 半 bàn one half; half (used before the measure word when there is no whole number, or after when there is) 商 shāng to discuss, to consult with others 来 lái to come (toward the speaker), opposite of 去
HSK 2
旁 páng side; nearby
HSK 3
南 nán south (one of the four cardinal directions, opposite of north) 平 píng flat; level; even (like the surface of still water) 总 zǒng to gather together, to assemble
HSK 4
产 chǎn to give birth 并 bìng to merge; to combine into one 幸 xìng happy; fortunate 首 shǒu head; skull
HSK 5
善 shàn kind; benevolent; charitable (opposite of 恶)
HSK 6
兼 jiān doubled; combining two portions into one 夹 jiā to clamp; to press from both sides to hold something in place 帝 dì supreme deity or ruler of the universe in religion or mythology
HSK 7
兑 duì exchange (old gold or silver items for new ones at a jewelry shop) 兽 shòu beast; mammal (generally referring to four-legged, fur-covered mammals) 凿 záo chisel (a hand tool with a blade for carving or boring) 啬 sè miserly, stingy with money or possessions 逆 nì to go in the opposite direction (opposite of 顺)
Show more HSK 7 characters (+2)
邃 suì deep and distant (of time or space) 隧 suì tunnel; underground or mountain passage
1.2 自 zì — oneself; one's own self
自 is a component in 6 characters
HSK 1
息 xī breath; air inhaled and exhaled
HSK 3
咱 zán we (inclusive of both speaker and listener), equivalent to "咱们" 夏 xià summer (the second of the four seasons)
HSK 4
首 shǒu head; skull 鼻 bí nose (olfactory and respiratory organ)
HSK 5
臭 chòu foul-smelling; stinking (opposite of 香)

Stroke order

2 要 yào — important; significant
Xpinyin
要 is a component in 1 characters
HSK 5
腰 yāo waist; the middle part of the body between the hips and ribs

consists of

2.1 覀 xī — cover/top radical, seen above characters
覀 is a component in 5 characters
HSK 1
要 yào important; significant
HSK 2
票 piào a ticket, note, or slip used as a voucher or credential
HSK 6
覆 fù to cover, to conceal
HSK 7
潭 tán deep pool; deep pit; by extension: deep 贾 jiǎ a surname
2.2 女 nǚ — female (opposite of 男)
女 is a component in 54 characters
HSK 1
奶 nǎi breast; mammary gland 她 tā she; her (third-person feminine pronoun) 好 hǎo good; satisfactory (opposite of 坏) 妈 mā mom; mother (reduplicated form) 妹 mèi younger sister (by blood or same generation)
Show more HSK 1 characters (+2)
姐 jiě older sister 要 yào important; significant
HSK 2
妻 qī wife (opposite of 夫) 始 shǐ beginning; start; initial (opposite of '末'/'终') 姓 xìng surname; family name
HSK 3
如 rú to suit; to follow; in accordance with 姨 yí maternal aunt (mother's sister); respectful term for women of one's mother's generation 婚 hūn to marry; for a man and woman to become husband and wife 安 ān safe, secure; opposite of '危' 接 jiē to approach; to come into contact with
HSK 4
姑 gū father's sister; aunt 娘 niáng (colloq.) mother
HSK 5
妇 fù married woman; general term for woman 姥 lǎo maternal grandfather (see 姥爷) 姿 zī appearance; looks 威 wēi authority or power that commands awe and respect 娱 yú joyful; happy
Show more HSK 5 characters (+2)
婆 pó old woman (often reduplicated) 媒 méi matchmaker; person who arranges marriages
HSK 6
妆 zhuāng to put on makeup; to adorn oneself with cosmetics 妙 miào beautiful; fine 妨 fáng to hinder, obstruct (连~碍) 委 wěi winding, tortuous; euphemistic 姻 yīn marriage
Show more HSK 6 characters (+7)
娃 wá child; infant 娶 qǔ to take a wife; to marry (of a man, opposite of 嫁) 婴 yīng infant, newborn baby 媳 xí daughter-in-law, son's wife 嫁 jià (of a woman) to marry, get married (opposite of 娶) 嫌 xián suspicion; grounds for suspicion 宴 yàn to host a banquet; to feast together
HSK 7
奴 nú slave (person oppressed, exploited, and controlled in old society) 奸 jiān hypocritical and cunning 妄 wàng absurd, irrational, wild 妒 dù to envy; to be jealous of someone superior 妖 yāo demon; monster; supernatural creature in myths and legends
Show more HSK 7 characters (+13)
妥 tuǒ appropriate; suitable 姆 mǔ nanny; person hired to care for children, the elderly, or manage household affairs, usually female (see "保姆") 姜 jiāng ginger plant (perennial herb with lance-shaped leaves and yellow-green flowers, rarely blooming) 娇 jiāo delicate, beautiful, and lovely (of women, children, flowers, etc.) 婉 wǎn indirect and gentle in expression 婪 lán greedy; insatiably covetous of wealth 婿 xù husband 媚 mèi beautiful; lovely 嫂 sǎo elder brother's wife; sister-in-law 嫉 jí to envy; to be jealous of someone better than oneself 嫩 nèn tender, delicate (of young growth); opposite of "老" 嬉 xī (lit.) to play; to frolic 耍 shuǎ to play; to have fun

Stroke order